John McCain's Summary
of Positions
Positions are
categorized as Pro (Yes), Con (No), Not
Clearly Pro or Con (NC), or None Found
(?).
Candidates who have changed their
positions are listed as Now their most
recent position. |
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John McCain's Statements on
the Issues
Positions are
categorized as Pro, Con, Not Clearly Pro or Con, or None Found.
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| Abortion: |
"Should abortion remain a legal option in
America?" |
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 |
Now Not Clearly Pro or Con: "John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed
decision that must be overturned, and as president he will
nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the
business of legislating from the bench. Constitutional balance
would be restored by the reversal of Roe v. Wade, returning the
abortion question to the individual states. The difficult issue of
abortion should not be decided by judicial fiat. However, the
reversal of Roe v. Wade represents only one step in the long path
toward ending abortion. Once the question is returned to the
states, the fight for life will be one of courage and compassion -
the courage of a pregnant mother to bring her child into the world
and the compassion of civil society to meet her needs and those of
her newborn baby. The pro-life movement has done tremendous work
in building and reinforcing the infrastructure of civil society by
strengthening faith-based, community, and neighborhood
organizations that provide critical services to pregnant mothers
in need. This work must continue and government must find new ways
to empower and strengthen these armies of compassion. These
important groups can help build the consensus necessary to end
abortion at the state level. As John McCain has publicly noted,
'At its core, abortion is a human tragedy. To effect meaningful
change, we must engage the debate at a human level.'"
"On the Issues: Human Dignity & the
Sanctity of Life," John McCain's official candidate website
(accessed Nov. 29, 2007)
|
[Editor's Note: In addition to
John McCain's undated Not Clearly Pro or Con
position above, regarding keeping abortion legal, he has also
expressed a Pro position as indicated in his July
21, 2005 statement below.]
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Pro: "[John McCain]: I
think it [right to an abortion] depends on the stage of the
pregnancy, and I know we're splitting hairs here. But there's a
point-there's a point where the woman's health is, obviously, in
the later stages of pregnancy, is-gains in greater and greater
importance. But I believe that if Roe v. Wade itself were
repealed, we would go back to the states. And the states would
make decisions according to the standards that they want to
prevail within their states. So, if Roe v. Wade were repealed,
that wouldn't have the Draconian effects that some view it. And
I'm, being a states rights guy, that would be fine with me...
[Chris Mathews]: It would be OK with you
if some states said that a woman couldn't have an abortion, even
if her health was in danger?
[John McCain]: My position-my position is
life of the mother, obviously... Rape, incest, or the life of the
mother."
Hardball with Chris
Matthews, MSNBC, July 21, 2005
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| Abortion: |
"Should parental consent be required for pregnant minors to have abortions?" |
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| |
Pro: "...[D]espite the fact that 23 States require a minor to receive parental consent prior to obtaining an abortion, these important laws are being violated. Today, minors, with the assistance of adults who are not their parents, are being transported across State lines to receive abortions without obtaining parental consent. We must end this circumvention of State laws and, more importantly, the consequences such actions have on life."
Congressional Record, Library of Congress, THOMAS website, Sep. 29, 2006
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| Character: |
"Is competence more important than honesty in a President?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Americans who expect their elected representatives to execute the responsibilities of our office with competence and integrity are often disappointed. They are disappointed by our failure to address the big problems facing our country, and make the necessary changes to government to meet those challenges...
If I'm privileged to serve our country as President, I will hold my administration to standards of conduct that will strengthen rather than diminish the people's faith in our integrity."
"Senator McCain Addresses the Oklahoma State Legislature on Government Reform," John McCain's official campaign website, May 21, 2007
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| China: |
"Is China a threat to the U.S.?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: "China could also bolster its claim that it is 'peacefully rising' by being more transparent about its significant military buildup. When China builds new submarines, adds hundreds of new jet fighters, modernizes its arsenal of strategic ballistic missiles, and tests antisatellite weapons, the United States legitimately must question the intent of such provocative acts. When China threatens democratic Taiwan with a massive arsenal of missiles and warlike rhetoric, the United States must take note. When China enjoys close economic and diplomatic relations with pariah states such as Burma, Sudan, and Zimbabwe, tension will result. When China proposes regional forums and economic arrangements designed to exclude America from Asia, the United States will react.
China and the United States are not destined to be adversaries. We have numerous overlapping interests. U.S.-Chinese relations can benefit both countries and, in turn, the Asia-Pacific region and the world. But until China moves toward political liberalization, our relationship will be based on periodically shared interests rather than the bedrock of shared values...
Some Americans see globalization and the rise of economic giants such as China and India as a threat. We should reform our job training and education programs to more effectively help displaced American workers find new jobs that take advantage of trade and innovation. But we should continue to promote free trade, as it is vital to American prosperity."
"An Enduring Peace Built on Freedom: Securing America's Future," Foreign Affairs, Nov./Dec. 2007
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| China: |
"Should the U.S. impose economic sanctions on China as an incentive to improve its human rights policies?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Democracy and freedom continue to flourish around the world, but there have been some discouraging trends. In China, despite miraculous economic growth and a higher standard of living for many millions of Chinese, hopes for an accompanying political reform have diminished. The ruling party seems determined to dominate political life, and as in the past, the talk is of order, not democracy, the supremacy of the party not of the people. China astonishes the world with its economic and technological modernization, but then spends billions trying to control that great icon of the modern era, the internet. China recognizes its vital interest in economic integration with the democratic world. But it has also joined Russia in hindering international efforts to put pressure on dictators in Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Burma, and other pariah states. China expresses its desire for a stable peace in East Asia, but it continues to increase its military might, fostering distrust and concerns in the region about Beijing's ambitions. We must insist that China use its newfound power responsibly at home and abroad."
"Senator McCain Addresses the Hoover Institution on U.S. Foreign Policy," John McCain's official campaign website, May 1, 2007
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| Cuba: |
"Should the U.S.
continue to support an embargo against Cuba?" |
|
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Pro: "My administration
will press the Cuban regime to release all political prisoners
unconditionally, to legalize all political parties, labor unions
and free media and to schedule internationally monitored
elections. And, the embargo will stay in place until those terms
are met."
"Senator John McCain Address on Latin America
to the Florida Association of Broadcasters," Speech, John McCain's
official candidate website, June 20, 2007
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| Darfur: |
"Should the U.S. send any American forces, with or without the U.N., to the Darfur region of Sudan to stop the genocide?" |
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| |
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "The U.N. [United Nations] Security Council should demand that the Sudanese government immediately stop all violence against civilians, disarm and disband its militias, allow full humanitarian access, and let displaced persons return home. Should the government refuse to reverse course, its leadership should face targeted multilateral sanctions and visa bans. Peacekeeping troops should be deployed to Darfur to protect civilians and expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid, and we should encourage African, European and Arab countries to contribute to these forces.
The United States must stand ready to do what it can to stop the massacres. In addition to pushing the U.N. Security Council to act, we should provide financial and logistical support to countries willing to provide peacekeeping forces. The United States should initiate its own targeted sanctions against the Janjaweed and government leaders, and consider other ways we can increase pressure on the government. We must also continue to tell the world about the murderous activities in which these leaders are engaged, and make clear to all that this behavior is totally unacceptable."
"It's Happening Again," Op-Ed b
y Senators John McCain and Mike DeWine, Washington Post, June 23, 2004
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| Death Penalty: |
"Should the
death penalty remain a legal option in America?" |
|
|
Pro: Voted Yes to "S.1798: A bill to provide for
the imposition of the death penalty for the terrorist murder of
United States nationals abroad."
"S.1798," U.S. Senate website, Oct. 26, 1989
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| Economy: |
"Is outsourcing jobs to other countries good for America?" |
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Pro: "Globalization is here to stay. That is not something to fear. It is an opportunity to be seized. But globalization will not
automatically benefit every American.
Change is hard, and while most of us gain, some industries, companies and workers are forced to struggle with very
difficult choices. It wasn't government's job to spend millions to save buggy whip factories and haberdashers when
cars replaced carriages and men stopped wearing hats. But it is government's job to help workers get the education
and training they need for the new jobs that will be created by new businesses in this new century...
Older workers can use their experience and work ethic to adapt to the challenges of the next job, but often the starting
pay of the next job doesn't measure up. We should give these displaced workers who move to a new job a few years
of supplement to their earnings so that the impact of their economic dislocation is not so severe. They will be less
resistant to taking a lower paying job and we will all benefit from having their experience back on the job.
I have always believed that before I can win someone's vote, I have to win their respect. And to do that I have to be
honest with you. So here's a little straight talk I know the people of Michigan will understand. Some jobs that have left
Michigan are not coming back. And the answer to that isn't to raise false hopes that somehow we can bring back lost
jobs but to create new ones."
"Remarks To Americans For Prosperity Michigan Summit," John McCain's official campaign website, Jan. 12, 2008
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| Economy: |
"Should the U.S. include mandatory regulations for labor rights in free trade agreements?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Opening new and integrated world markets does not automatically translate into a higher quality life for everyone. Latin America's income inequality poses a threat to stability and free market democracy. As we pursue liberalized trade, we must work with Latin American governments to open up real opportunities for the millions of citizens in this hemisphere trapped in the underground informal economy, without access to credit, with no titles to their property, and no ability to harness their energies and work ethic in an entrepreneurial economy. The power of global capital markets dwarfs the importance of foreign assistance in financing economic expansion. Capital markets do not, however, automatically seek out those who have been left behind - and my administration would work to ensure that those marginalized have an opportunity for a better life."
"Senator John McCain Address on Latin America to the Florida Association of Broadcasters," John McCain's official candidate website, June 20, 2007
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| Economy: |
"Has the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had an overall benefit for the U.S.?" |
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Pro: "I know NAFTA was a good idea. It has created millions of jobs and it has helped the economies of all three of these nations. All you have to do is go to Detroit and see the thousands of trucks lined up every day or go to our southern border. There have been winners and losers. And that's the problem. But free trade is something that I think is vital to America."
"Re: Was NAFTA a good idea?" Big Think website, Dec. 14, 2007
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| Education: |
"Has the No Child Left Behind Act been effective at improving public education?" |
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Pro: "The principles underneath No Child Left Behind -- standards, accountability, transparency, and choice-- are a major step in the right direction; taking away power from education bureaucrats and returning it to those on the front lines of education -- the local schools, the local teachers and the local parents. It has provided support and guidance to our state and local communities to strengthen our schools, while also giving much needed flexibility for every state in the use of federal education dollars. It also contains many initiatives that have helped ensure that more federal education dollars reach our classrooms rather than being lost in bureaucratic black hole."
"The Presidential Field: John McCain," Washington Post online election resource guide (accessed Jan. 25, 2008)
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| Education: |
"Is the
increasing cost of college and university tuition pricing America's
middle class out of higher education?" |
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Pro: "By far, I believe
the skyrocketing costs of tuition at colleges and universities
across our nation is the biggest obstacle facing those who want to
continue their education. Over the last 20 years, the average
tuition at public educational institutions has increased by 400
percent, while tuition at private institutions has increased more
than 440 percent. These are unnerving statistics for parents just
starting their families, but they are a terrifying reality for
parents with college-bound children.
Congress has taken steps to improve the
availability of financial assistance for college tuition. The 1998
reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which I supported,
made student loans more affordable by increasing the allowable
level for Pell Grants and setting the lowest loan interest rates
in nearly two decades. The bill also provided loan forgiveness for
college students who agreed to teach in high-risk schools, while
also strengthening the training of future teachers. In addition, I
will continue to support significant funding for literacy-,
vocational-, and technical-education programs, and broadening
opportunities for high-school and adult students through strong
educational initiatives, including the Carl D. Perkins Act...
I supported the 1997 Taxpayer Relief Act
that created the Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits to make
college and higher education more affordable. Both of these
programs are currently playing an important role in helping make
college and postsecondary education more affordable for many
American families, and I will continue to support them.
We must do more to make college affordable
for all Americans. That is why I have proposed a tax plan that
allows Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money to be
used for their priorities, including higher education. In
addition, I will increase the annual amount families can save in
tax-free Education Savings Accounts for college expenses. I will
encourage and reward savings and investment by establishing new,
tax-deferred Family Security Accounts which can be used for higher
education. And I will continue to support funding as generously as
possible federal programs, such as Pell Grants, that help make
higher education affordable for all Americans."
"Q&A: The Candidates on College Issues,"
The Chronicle of Higher Education,
Feb. 25, 2000
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| Education: |
"Should the federal government fund school voucher programs?" |
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Pro: "Choice and competition is the key to success in education in America. That means charter
schools, that means home schooling, it means vouchers, it means rewarding good teachers and finding
bad teachers another line of work...It means rewarding good performing schools, and it really means in some cases putting bad performing schools out of business."
Republican Presidential Debate, Coral Gables, FL, Dec. 9, 2007
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| Election Reform: |
"Should voter
verified paper audit trails (VVPAT) be mandatory in
elections?" |
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None Found: ProCon.org emailed the McCain campaign on Oct. 10, 2007 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Oct. 19, 2007.
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| Election Reform: |
"Should there be restrictions on campaign contributions?" |
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Pro: "Most Americans understand that competitive elections in a free country require money. Since campaigns require spending funds to communicate with voters, they know we can never take money completely out of politics, nor should we. Americans have a right to support the candidates and the parties they endorse, including financially if they so choose.
But what most Americans worry about profoundly is corporations or individuals with huge checks seeking the undue influence on lawmakers that such largesse is intended to purchase. That is why John McCain has fought to enforce long-standing prohibitions on corporate and union contributions to federal political parties, for sensible donation limits, disclosure of how candidates and campaigns are funded, and the diligent enforcement of these common sense rules that promote maximum public participation in the political process and limit opportunities for corruption."
"On the Issues: Lobbying & Ethics Reform," John McCain's official candidate website (accessed Jan. 8, 2008)
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| Election Reform: |
"Should the election campaigns of candidates for public office be publicly financed?" |
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Pro: "[Bill] Moyers: In your home state of Arizona, a number of candidates recently were elected to office running with public funding, public financing, which you supported, which you endorsed. What do you think about that experiment there?
[John] McCain: I think it's good overall. I think it needs to, like any other new experiment, it needs to have some wrinkles taken out of it. But we had more people run for public office than any time in the history of our state, and that's what it was all about. As I say, there's some fixes that need to be made, but it was a new experiment, and overall I think was very successful and interestingly the ones who are running, you know what they're telling me? They said, surprise, surprise, I spend my time talking to voters not to contributors.
Moyers: Do you think that could become a model for the nation as a whole?
McCain: Absolutely."
Now with Bill Moyers, Dec. 13, 2002
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| Energy: |
"Should drilling
for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) be
allowed?" |
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Con: Voted No on "S.AMDT.3132, Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge amendment: To create jobs for Americans, to reduce
dependence on foreign sources of crude oil and energy, to
strengthen the economic self determination of the Inupiat Eskimos
and to promote national security," on Apr. 16, 2002:
"SEC. 1902. DEFINITIONS.
(1) COASTAL PLAIN.--The term
'Coastal Plain' means that area identified as such in the map
entitled 'Arctic National Wildlife Refuge', dated August 1980, as
referenced in section 1002(b) of the Alaska National Interest
Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 3142(b)(1)), comprising
approximately 1,549,000 acres, and as legally described in
appendix I to part 37 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations...
SEC. 1903. LEASING PROGRAM
FOR LANDS WITHIN THE COASTAL PLAIN.
(a) IN GENERAL.--The
Secretary shall take such actions as are necessary--
(1) to establish and
implement in accordance with this title a competitive oil and gas
leasing program under the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et
seq.) that will result in an environmentally sound program for the
exploration, development, and production of the oil and gas
resources of the Coastal Plain."
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| Energy: |
"Should the U.S. tap into its emergency oil reserves to help bring down the price of gasoline?" |
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None Found: ProCon.org emailed the McCain campaign on Mar. 11, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Mar. 21, 2008.
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| Environment: |
"Should the U.S.
ratify an international environmental agreement (such as the Kyoto
Protocol) that mandates reductions in carbon
emissions?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: Voted Yes on "S.RES.98":
"Expressing the
sense of the Senate regarding the conditions for the United States
becoming a signatory to any international agreement on greenhouse
gas emissions under the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change...
(1) the United States should not be a
signatory to any protocol to, or other agreement regarding, the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change of 1992, at
negotiations in Kyoto in December 1997, or thereafter, which
would--
(A) mandate new commitments to limit or
reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the Annex I Parties, unless
the protocol or other agreement also mandates new specific
scheduled commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions
for Developing Country Parties within the same compliance period,
or
(B) would result in serious harm to the
economy of the United States; and
(2) any such protocol or other agreement
which would require the advice and consent of the Senate to
ratification should be accompanied by a detailed explanation of
any legislation or regulatory actions that may be required to
implement the protocol or other agreement and should also be
accompanied by an analysis of the detailed financial costs and
other impacts on the economy of the United States which would be
incurred by the implementation of the protocol or other
agreement."
"S.RES.98," U.S. Senate website, July 25,
1997 |
| Environment: |
"Should the federal government mandate an increase in fuel efficiency standards for automobiles?" |
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Pro: "There are some tough decisions that need to be made. One of them is increasing CAFE [Corporate Average Fuel Economy] standards. I am a small government, less regulation, lower taxes American. But I think it's time to raise CAFE standards."
"Global Warming and Energy Solutions" conference speech, Manchester, New Hampshire, YouTube.com Oct. 13, 2007
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| Environment: |
"Are humans substantially responsible for global climate change today?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: "I also believe that strengthening our energy security goes hand-in-hand with addressing global climate change, which I believe is real with human activity contributing to the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere."
"America’s Strategic Vulnerability: Vital Energy Questions," National Review, Sep. 27, 2007
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| Gun Control: |
"Are more
federal regulations on guns and ammunition needed?" |
|
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Con: "John McCain believes
that the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is a
fundamental, individual Constitutional right that we have a sacred
duty to protect. We have a responsibility to ensure that criminals
who violate the law are prosecuted to the fullest, rather than
restricting the rights of law abiding citizens. Gun control is a
proven failure in fighting crime. Law abiding citizens should not
be asked to give up their rights because of criminals - criminals
who ignore gun control laws anyway...
John McCain believes that banning
ammunition is just another way to undermine Second Amendment
rights. He voted against an amendment that would have banned many
of the most commonly used hunting cartridges on the spurious
grounds that they were 'armor-piercing.'"
"On the Issues: Protecting Second Amendment
Rights," John McCain's official campaign website (accessed Nov.
29, 2007)
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| Health Care: |
"Should all
Americans have a right to government or employer subsidized basic
health care?" |
|
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Con: "First of all, I
think it is important that that will be one of the defining issues
of this campaign, because we know that there will be Hillary-care
resurrected. There will be efforts to raise your taxes. There will
be efforts to have a single-payer big government solution by the
Democrats. They've already espoused those causes. If you believe
them, please take a trip to Canada or England before you decide to
support such a thing.
America has the highest quality health
care in the world. Our job is to preserve it. Our job is to keep
the costs down. Last year, the Medicaid inflation was 10 percent.
No, no program in the world can survive under that. So of course
we want to remove the employer (OOTC:EPLI) tax, and tax
incentives, and move it to the individual. Give the individual a
$2,500 refundable tax credit, a family a $5,000 tax credit.
If you need to have people in special
categories such as congenital diseases, we may have to set up a
fund to care for those. But the key is, make health care in
America affordable and available. Don't destroy it, as the
Democrats want to do."
Republican Presidential Debate, Orlando,
Florida, hosted by FOX News, Oct. 21, 2007
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| Health Care: |
"Should Americans be allowed to purchase their prescription drugs from other countries?" |
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Pro: "It's a strawman to say that a country like Canada could not be responsible for safe drugs to be brought into our country. Many of them are manufactured in Canada, as you know.
I would reimport them from any country in the world as long as you have the proper process. In Canada, we already do. In Mexico, we do not."
"McCain Calls For Drug Reimportation," The Associated Press, Nov. 17, 2007
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| Immigration: |
"Are illegal immigrants a net gain to the U.S. economy?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: "The reality is, there are an estimated [?] million undocumented people living and working in this country. It would be impossible to identify and round up all 10 to 11 million of the current undocumented, and if we did, it would ground our nation's economy to a halt. These millions of people are working. Aliens will not come forward to simply 'report and deport.' We have a national interest in identifying these individuals, incentivizing them to come forward out of the shadows, go through security background checks, pay back taxes, pay penalties for breaking the law, learn to speak English, and regularize their status. Anyone who thinks this goal can be achieved without providing an eventual path to a permanent legal status is not serious about solving this problem."
"Members of Congress Introduce Comprehensive Border Security & Immigration Reform Bill [S 2611]," John McCain's official U.S. Senate website, May 13, 2005
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| Immigration: |
"Should illegal aliens receive any of the rights or benefits that lawful permanent residents enjoy?" |
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Pro: "I came to the Senate not to do the easy things, but to do the hard things. Mel Martinez and I knew
this was going to be a tough issue, but we thought the status quo was unacceptable: broken
borders; 12 million people here illegally; a need for a temporary worker program, certainly in my
state in the agricultural section, certainly in this state of Florida...
And we need to sit down as Americans and recognize these are God's children as well. And they need some protection under the law. And they need some of our love and compassion."
Republican Presidential Debate, St. Petersburg, Florida, hosted by CNN, YouTube.com, and the Republican Party of Florida, Nov. 28, 2007
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| Immigration: |
"Should the U.S.
build a physical barrier, such as a fence, along the U.S.-Mexico
border?" |
|
|
Now Con: "Look, America is a
land of opportunity. The question was just asked, what is it to be
an American? It's to share a common goal that all of us -- a
principle -- are created equal and endowed by our creator with
certain inalienable rights...
Of course it has to be legal. Of course
that it has to be regulated. And 18 months, by the way, will go by
while we fix the border before we do anything else on this
issue...
And we're not going to erect barriers and
fences."
Republican Presidential Debate, Saint Anselm
College Manchester, New Hampshire, hosted by CNN, June 5, 2007
|
[Editor's Note: Prior to John
McCain's June 5, 2007 Con position
above, regarding building a border fence, he has also expressed a
Pro position as indicated in his Sep.
29, 2006 Senate vote in support of the "Secure Fence Act of
2006."]
|
Pro: Voted Yes to the "Secure Fence Act of 2006
(H.R. 6061)"
"SEC. 3.
CONSTRUCTION OF FENCING AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS IN BORDER AREA
FROM PACIFIC OCEAN TO GULF OF MEXICO...
(1) SECURITY FEATURES.-
(A) REINFORCED FENCING.-In carrying out
subsection
(a), the Secretary of Homeland Security
shall provide for least 2 layers of reinforced fencing, the
installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting,
cameras, and sensors..."
"H.R.6061: Secure Fence Act of 2006," Library
of Congress website, Sep. 29, 2006
|
| Iran: |
"Should the U.S.
use military force against Iran if Iran does not dismantle its
nuclear program?" |
|
|
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "And every option
must remain on the table. Military action isn't our preference. It
remains, as it always must, the last option. We have some way to
go diplomatically before we need to contemplate other measures.
But it is a simple observation of reality that there is only one
thing worse than a military solution, and that, my friends, is a
nuclear armed Iran. The regime must understand that it cannot win
a showdown with the world."
"John McCain Addresses the Christians United
for Israel," Speeches, John McCain's official campaign website,
July 18, 2007
|
| Iraq: |
"Was it a mistake to attack Iraq in 2003?" |
|
| |
Con: "It was worth getting rid of Saddam Hussein. He had used weapons of mass destruction, and it's clear that he was hell-bent on acquiring them...
The war in Iraq is justified because of the threat of Saddam Hussein...
It was a good idea. It was not worth the failures that happened, but it is worth it at the end of the day because we will have peace and success in the Middle East, and our men and women will return, and return with honor, and they won't have to go back and fight al Qaeda there."
Republican Presidential Debate, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, hosted by MSNBC, St. Petersburg Times, Jan. 24, 2008
|
| Iraq: |
"Has the war in
Iraq made America safer?" |
|
|
Not Cleary Pro or Con: "America has a vital interest in preventing
the emergence of Iraq as a Wild West for terrorists, similar to
Afghanistan before 9/11. By leaving Iraq before there is a stable
Iraqi governing authority we risk precisely this, and the
potential consequence of allowing terrorists sanctuary in Iraq is
another 9/11 or worse. In Iraq today, terrorists have resorted to
levels of barbarism that shock the world, and we should not be so
naive as to believe their intentions are limited solely to the
borders of that country. We Americans are their primary enemy, and
we Americans are their ultimate target...
Our defeat in Iraq would constitute a
defeat in the war against terror and extremism and would make the
world a much more dangerous place. The enemies we face there
harbor the same depraved indifference to human life as those who
killed three thousand innocent Americans on a September morning in
2001...
Some argue the war in Iraq no longer has
anything to do with us; that it is a hopelessly complicated mess
of tribal warfare and sectarian conflict. The situation is
complex, and very difficult. Yet from one perspective it is quite
simple. We are engaged in a basic struggle: a struggle between
humanity and inhumanity; between builders and destroyers. If
fighting these people and preventing the export of their brand of
radicalism and terror is not intrinsic to the national security
and most cherished values of the United States, I don't know what
is."
"April 11 Speech on Iraq," John McCain's
official candidate website (accessed Oct. 24, 2007)
|
| Iraq: |
"Should the U.S.
set a timetable for troop withdrawal in Iraq?" |
|
|
Con: "Look, this is long
and hard and difficult, and I've said it for a long time. And it's
no last throes, it's no mission accomplished, it's no few
dead-enders. It's long and hard and tough. We are experiencing
some successes. Do we have to experience more? Yes. But to do what
the Democrats want to do, and that's set a date for withdrawal,
even those who opposed the war from the beginning don't think that
that would lead to anything but an enormously challenging
situation as a result.
MR. [TIM] RUSSERT: But, senator, the Iraqi
parliament, a majority of the Iraqi parliament, has signed a
petition asking for a date certain for withdrawal of American
troops. If the Iraqi parliament wants it, a majority in the
Congress want it...
SEN. McCAIN: Mm-hmm.
MR. RUSSERT: ...then why do you stand
there and say, "No, you can't have it"?
SEN. McCAIN: Because it's my job to give
my best estimate to the American people, no matter what the
political calculations may be, as to what's the best in our
nation's national security interest. Young men and women are
risking their lives as we speak in, in, in Iraq. And I know that
they will be in greater harm's way if we withdraw from Iraq, as we
keep debating over and over and over again. And I know what's
best, in my mind, in my experience, in my knowledge, in my
inspiration, as to what's best for this country. So political
calculations such as polls, I understand that if the American
people don't continue to support this effort that we will be
forced to withdraw. But it's also my obligation to tell the
American people and my constituents in Arizona that I represent,
what the consequences of failure will be; and I believe they will
be catastrophic."
Meet the Press
with Tim Russert, MSNBC, May 13, 2007
|
| Israel: |
"Should Israel continue to receive the current level of military and economic aid from the U.S.?" |
|
| |
Pro: "And just as there will always be a proud, strong Israel, so too will there always be a close and enduring U.S.-Israel relationship. When it comes to the defense of Israel, we simply cannot compromise. In view of the increased threats to Israeli security, American support for Israel should intensify - to include providing needed military equipment and technology and ensuring that Israel maintains its qualitative military edge. Israel's enemies are too numerous, its margin of error too small, and our shared interests and values too great for any other position."
"John McCain Addresses the Christians United for Israel," Speech, John McCain's official campaign website, July 18, 2007
|
| Israel-Palestinian Conflict: |
"Should the U.S. allow Hamas to join future Israeli-Palestinian negotiations?" |
|
| |
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Similarly, the leadership of Hamas must be isolated. The Palestinian people are ill-served by a terrorist-led government that refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist, refuses to renounce violence, and refuses to acknowledge prior peace commitments. The United States cannot have normal relations with such a government, one that deliberately targets innocent Israeli civilians in an attempt to terrorize the Jewish population.
The recent talks between the Israeli government and the government led by President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank are encouraging, and the United States should support this effort. We also must ensure that Israel's people can live in safety until a Palestinian leadership truly committed to peace emerges. No moral nation - neither Israel nor America - can allow terrorists to chart the political course of its people."
"John McCain Addresses the Christians United for Israel," Speech, John McCain's official candidate website, July 18, 2007
|
| Israeli Palestinian Conflict: |
"Should there be an independent Palestinian state?" |
|
| |
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Palestinian statehood has significant international support, and it is an objective our President supports. But we will do the Palestinian people no favors if Palestinian statehood merely replaces the corrupt, strongman rule of the Palestinian Authority with the corrupt, strongman rule of another Arab dictatorship in Palestine. The Palestinian people deserve better than that. The international community must leverage the unique role it has played in the debate over Palestinian statehood to ensure that any Palestinian state that does emerge is accountable and representative, with power broadly based and with unified police and military forces that are accountable to an elected leader, who will in turn be accountable to the international community, whose financial support will sustain the Palestinian state."
Speech at the American Jewish Committee Annual Meeting, May 9, 2002
|
| Kosovo: |
"Should the U.S. have supported Kosovo’s independence?" |
|
| |
Pro: "With its declaration of independence, Kosovo and the Balkans with it has taken a major step out of the 1990s and into the 21st century. Eleven years ago, that region was in flames, characterized by ethnic cleansing and widespread violence. Today, for the first time, the region is poised to move forward. The people of Kosovo should be commended for the great strides they have made and the bright future that lies ahead.
The United States and the rest of the international community can help solidify these gains by quickly recognizing Kosovo's independence."
"Senator McCain Welcomes Kosovo's Independence," Press Release, Feb. 18, 2008
|
| Marriage: |
"Should there be
a Constitutional amendment or federal law defining marriage as only
between a man and a woman?" |
|
|
Con: "The constitutional
amendment [The Federal Marriage Constitutional Amendment] we're
debating today strikes me as antithetical in every way to the core
philosophy of Republicans... It usurps from the states a
fundamental authority they have always possessed and imposes a
federal remedy for a problem that most states do not believe
confronts them."
"McCain: Same-Sex Marriage Ban Is
Un-Republican," CNN.com, July 14, 2004
|
[Editor's Note: Although John
McCain has opposed a U.S. Constitutional amendment to same-sex
marriage. He has supported a state-level amendment to the Arizona
constitution banning same-sex marriage.
"Gay-Marriage Ban Initiative Wins Support
from McCain," an article published in The
Arizona Republic, Aug. 26, 2005, stated the following:
"Sen. John McCain
said Thursday that he supports an initiative that would change
Arizona's Constitution to ban gay marriages and deny government
benefits to unmarried couples...
The amendment 'would allow the people of
Arizona to decide on the definition of marriage in our state,'
McCain said in a statement. The senator, who opposes a federal
constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, believes those
are state matters, a staffer said."]
|
| Marriage: |
"Should an
affair outside of marriage disqualify a candidate for public
office?" |
|
|
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "[Katie] Couric: Harry Truman once said, 'A
man not honorable in his marital relations is not usually
honorable in any other.' Many people feel they don't feel
comfortable supporting someone who's not remained faithful to his
or her spouse. Should they feel that way? Or can you understand
their feeling that way?
[John] McCain: You know ... that's an area
that I never get into. Because I think that people make judgments,
and you can judge other people. I'm not very good at that. And so,
I think it's up to each person's personal view of the individual,
and ... everybody has a different view.
I say that because you and I know that
there have | | |
(PDF) 50 KB,
Apr. 16, 2002